Kyrgyz Government Sets Up HQ to Deal With Energy Situation

Excerpt from report by privately-owned Kyrgyz AKIpress news agency website

Bishkek, 9 April: The Kyrgyz government has set up a headquarters to stabilize the water and energy situation, accumulate water in the Toktogul reservoir and prepare sectors of the economy and people for the 2008-2009 autumn-winter period. It was set up in line with the Kyrgyz government’s resolution on measures on preparing for the 2008- 2009 autumn-winter period, which was adopted today.

The Kyrgyz government’s press service said that First Deputy Prime Minister Iskenderbek Aydaraliyev was appointed head of the headquarters.

At a meeting, Energy Minister Saparbek Balkibekov said that a critical situation had emerged in the Toktogul hydroelectric power station due to the water shortage and a sudden increase in production of electricity during this year’s cold winter. This resulted in necessity to reduce electricity production by the hydroelectric power station and set limits on the consumption of electricity.

Balkibekov said that all suggested measures would contribute to accumulating necessary volume of water in the Toktogul reservoir. He said that the Toktogul hydroelectric power station would reduce production of electricity by 4bn kWh in spring and summer this year. At the same time, the Bishkek heating and electric power plant would increase production of electricity to up to 315 MW. A total of 500m kWh would be imported from neighbouring countries. Restrictions on consumption of electricity in the amount of 1.5bn kWh would be imposed by scheduled electricity cuts and suspension of heating and electricity supplies to major debtors. Power engineering specialists intend to reduce electricity waste by 30 per cent. Export of electricity will also be restricted.

[Passage omitted: electricity supplies to hospitals, military and educational establishments will not be suspended]

Also, export of black oil will also be banned, as the country will need 69,300 tonnes of black oil during the autumn-winter period. Now, the country has 38,900 tonnes of it.

Balkibekov said that if prompt measures were not taken then the level of water in the Toktogul hydroelectric power station might fall to 3bn cu.m. and this will put existence of this power station under threat.

[Passage omitted: Prime Minister Igor Chudinov said that the scheduled electricity suspension would be introduced during the spring and winter period; the Kyrgyz government plans to allocate 600m soms (about 16.5m dollars) to switch to using black oil]

Originally published by AKIpress news agency website, Bishkek, in Russian 0954 9 Apr 08.

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